Last season, MI handed the captaincy to Hardik Pandya, who was transferred from Gujarat Titans.(PTI)
As the 2025 IPL mega auction draws near, a lot of eyes will be on the Mumbai Indians, who must choose whether to hold on to their former captain Rohit Sharma. Last season, MI handed the captaincy to Hardik Pandya, who was transferred from Gujarat Titans.
MI are the winners of a record five IPL titles under Rohit but their change of hands at the top didn't quite work out as smoothly as they would've liked. There was widespread displeasure among fans over the decision to replace Rohit as captain and Pandya copped boos at the Wankhede Stadium and MI finished rock bottom in the league stage.
It could be a different situation for Pandya this year, though. The all-rounder turned around his form and his standing with the fans by being an integral part of India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. Rohit's former Mumbai Indians teammate Harbhajan Singh believes that if the 38-year-old is not retained by the Mumbai franchise, it will ignite a massive bidding war at the auction.
"Rohit Sharma, as a leader and a player, is amazing. He’s a top-quality player, top-quality captain and leader. He is a proven match-winner. Even at 37, he still has a lot of cricket left in him. If Rohit enters the auction, he will fetch big bucks. It will be exciting to see the auction unfold," the former India offspinner also said.
Rohit's future under the scanner at 2025 IPL auction